Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell files for divorce but the paperwork has been sealed

Courtesy of St. Mary Basilica

Former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, are greeted by the rector of the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Jim Curran before the Palm Sunday mass in Norfolk on Sunday, March 20, 2016.

Former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, are greeted by the rector of the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Jim Curran before the Palm Sunday mass in Norfolk on Sunday, March 20, 2016. (Courtesy of St. Mary Basilica)

Alissa Skelton and Jane HarperStaff writers

Nearly five years after his marriage was on public display during his federal corruption trial, former Gov. Bob McDonnell has filed for divorce from his wife.

During his trial in August 2014, he spoke about how he and his wife, Maureen, were living apart — he was staying with his pastor in the church rectory and she was living in their Henrico County home. He also testified about how years earlier, he had thought that "maybe this was the end of our marriage."

On Monday, Bob McDonnell confirmed that he had filed the paperwork but declined to comment, saying it was a personal matter he plans to deal with privately. The McDonnells have five adult children.

“I hope you respect the privacy of our family,” he told a Pilot reporter in a phone interview. “We have been through a lot for the last four or five years.”

Bob McDonnell filed for divorce on Nov. 2 and the court documents were sealed immediately.

The decision was made by a judge in response to a request from a lawyer in the case, said Nancy White, supervisor of the Circuit Court’s civil department. It’s a rare action in divorce cases, she said.

“It does happen, but not very often at all. Maybe once or twice a year.”

Lawyers must offer a good argument for sealing, she said.

“They (judges) don’t take this lightly. Divorces are public record so they are supposed to stay public. But sometimes there are special circumstances.”

White did not know why the sealing order was granted in this case.

“Once it’s sealed, we don’t look to see the reason why,” she said.

In January 2014, federal investigators criminally charged the McDonnells after discovering their family received more than $170,000 in gifts, cash or loans from businessman Jonnie Williams. Bob McDonnell was the state's first governor to be indicted on federal corruption charges.

During the trial, his defense team put much of the blame on Maureen and said she was receiving the gifts without his knowledge. They were both convicted of public corruption in 2014. But the U.S. Supreme Court overturned their convictions two years later.

Bob McDonnell works as a lawyer for Poole Brooke Plumlee PC. He also runs the McDonnell Group, a consulting firm, with his sister, Maureen, and is a government professor at Regent University, his alma mater.